News about Griff Rhys Jones

The massive redevelopment was met with 2,160 protests, with just 29 in favor of the planning request made by Sellar, the developer behind The Shard's. The initiative calls for partial demolition of the Victorian-era train station and the construction of a 20-story building above the historic train station and the neighboring grade II listed Andaz hotel, formerly the Grand Eastern Hotel. Herzog and de Meuron, the Swiss architects who created Tate Modern, have designed a roof terrace with a wildflower meadow and a swimming pool. In the meantime, inside the tower would be a mash-up of hotel rooms and offices. Members of the public sluggishly criticized the proposals, and some even said that they would'destroy the entire character of Liverpool Street Station.'

Despite the fact that 174 of the original 300 lamps were saved last year following a campaign supported by the Daily Mail, over 99% of the lamps that do not have listed status are still under attack and are set to be replaced with eco-friendly LEDs. Campaigners, including the Victorian Society and the London Gasketeers, have requested that every unlisted lamp be shielded from being converted. Senior politicians echoed the calls for the removal of the under threat lamps yesterday. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Westminster's former business secretary, explains, "These lamps are part of Westminster's history, and removing them would be an act of vandalism to a picayune green advantage.' Left: Aaron Osman, a British Gas lamplighter, owning one of the few remaining lamps.

IAN HERBERT: My youngest, who lives near Alexandra Palace, has been watching the walker pints of lager pass by his place for several days now, wearing the human traffic cones, men dressed as bananas, condiments, and Flintstones. The Professional Darts Corporation's world championships are obviously transforming Ally Pally into a destination where Oompa Loompas, nuns, and bottles of tomato ketchup are all sing "Stand up if you love the darts." A place where it is always 11.30 p.m. on a Friday night,' The Economist put it.' The purists will certainly be dissatisfied with ale's manufacturing levels and the consequent shift to new social norms. (Though there was an acknowledgement six years ago that the event's so-called 'walk-on girls' were not 'compatible with family viewing', the cheerleaders maintain.)

GRIFF RHYS JONES: I've just passed the national speed limit. The biblical allocation. The latest two scores and ten are the same, although you may gibber that three scores are incorrect and ten are the same. These are 'the best years,' you could tell me. That at least I'm not 80, that I can wear purple and yell at the traffic, that I can become a regular contributor to the Oldie magazine, and that it's little more than being able to outlive Rik Mayall, Mel Smith, and Robbie Coltrane. However, I can't be positive about being 70. I hadn't planned for this. Despite a portly appearance, thin white hair, and age spots, my father told me that the bloke inside him was still essentially a student. The one was 20 years old at the time.

Developers Sellar Property Group and Networks Rail intend to demolish portions of the grade II listed station, including 20th-century train sheds, as part of the project, which also includes proposals to build two high-rise buildings above the station and the nearby Grand Eastern Hotel. The Victorian Society is concerned over the station's architecture's demise, and says that the proposals' must not be rejected.'

Melanie Sykes said that Talkback, a television production company founded by Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, dismissed her when she complained. After she complained that comedian Leigh Francis - best known as his alter ego Keith Lemon - made jokes about her, she says television producers failed to respond. She said he used'used' her to entertain the audience.

Francis, 50, better known as his alter ego Keith Lemon, made explicit sexual jokes about her for three hours, including: "I bet your a*****e smells of flowers," Ms Sykes said. Talkback, the radio and television presenter, said she was told by the comedy duo Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones's company, refused to engage her when she complained. Ms Sykes, 53, a fashion PR, said, "I went into the studio and I didn't think Keith was going to be like he was on the other show [Celebrity Juice] where it's all about sex and blowjobs and screaming about people's's *****s,' so he used me to amuse the live audience.'

Developers are expected to upgrade the grade II listed station, which opened in 1875, as part of £1.5 billion plans, which will see the doubling of the concourse's size and the restoration of the historic Andaz hotel that neighbors it. The Victorian Society has been asked to include the station on this year's list of the buildings under threat, 'grossibly opportunistic.' 'I cannot believe that we have to put a national monument or a major railway station, a part of London and the City's history,' the Victorian Society's president said on today.' Among the other buildings on the list are majestic Turkish baths in Carlisle and a former sewage pumping station in Norwich.

They pleaded with Mr Gove to intervene in plans by developer Sellar to create shops, shops, and a hotel in a 16-story tower above the station (plans shown left and inset). Griff Rhys Jones, the Victorian Society's president, and representatives of other heritage organisations are among the signatories. The station is used for mainline rail links to destinations around Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk, as well as Elizabeth Line and London Underground services. Sellar claims that its plans involve more than £1.5 billion in private investment, including £450 million to double the station concourse size and adding more lifts and escalators.

Smith and Jones (pictured together inset and left with Pamela Stephenson and Rowan Atkinson) sold the TalkBack production company for £62 million, essentially bringing together with managing director Peter Fincham that they each received about £20 million. Now having access to millions led to comedian Smith (pictured right in 2005), who died of a heart attack in 2013, seeking greater thrills with much bigger sums and greater risks.

Griff Rhys Jones, a Welsh comedian, explores how he became teetotal and shares stories from his time with his late comedy partner Mel Smith as he approaches his 70th birthday. After a bout of hepatitis B., the actor, writer, and television presenter has been sober for 40 years. Featured left is Not The Nine O'Clock News team - Mel Smith, Pamela Stephenson, Rowan Atkinson, and Griff.

Tim Bentinck, the voice of David Archer, and other actors discuss how the rural Radio 4 drama is still as popular today as it was years ago. Queen Camilla is such a big fan that she attended an edition of the show in 2011, chatting with Ian Craig, the head chef at the Grey Gables luxury hotel, about his 'delicious' homemade shortbread. Alan Titchmarsh judged Ambridge's gardens, Kirstie Allsopp opened the festival, Professor Robert Winston was a fertility consultant, and Griff Rhys Jones led the campaign to recover the Cat And Fiddle pub.

Westminster Council was under pressure to convert the 305 lamps under its custody with LED versions that it said were more eco friendly, according to MailOnline in July last year. The lamp replacement process was suspended at the start of this year to allow for a consultation, but thirty lamps had already been modified by then date, which was disappointing. The London Gasketeers, a campaign group established by Westminster residents Luke Honey and Tim Bryars, had been trying to persuade the council to abandon their plans. As did architectural historian Dan Cruickshank, acting greats Griff Rhys Jones - president of the Victorian Society - and Simon callow spoke out in favour of the lamps. Now, campaigners' efforts have mostly paid off, with the council announcing today that it has retained 174 of the lamps after a wide-ranging survey revealed from heritage bodies, activists, and locals. The council will keep 138 of the lamps that are Grade-II listed, while a further 36 non-listed lamps that are in prominent positions will be covered. However, councillors predict that 94 non-listed lamps will be converted to LEDs to meet their climate obligations, but that they will be equipped with replica mantles, piping, and clocks so they look like gas versions. Photo: Gas lamps in Westminster (left and top right); a lamp being outlawed in the 1930s (bottom right); gas lamps in the Muppet Christmas Carol (inset).

Aran Osman is on a ladder on a cold and drizzly evening in Central London, fiddling about with a 100-year-old gas lamp in the gloom. Were likely to be sighing, swearing, or grumbling under our breath. But not Aran. He shakes the little glass door open on its ancient hinges, inspects the gas mantles, and begins to winding with a heavy metallic key. It's so beautiful up here.' Just look at it,' he chirps as the four delicate mantles made of silk bribes come to life. 'When the lights are out and you put them back up - the sense of joy! My heart opens up.'

As part of a major restructure, Marks and Spencer has confirmed that it will close 67 stores over the next five years. According to the high street chain, some of its 'lower sales, full line stores' will be closed in an attempt to save £300 million and reduce a £100 million electricity bill. M&S also revealed that it would be opening 104 new 'bigger and fresher' food stores, increasing the number of 'Simply Food' shops from 316 to 420, in spite of the difficult economic conditions.

Westminster Council was exclusively revealed in July last year that it was under pressure to replace the 305 lamps under its control with LED versions that it claims are more eco friendly. This was part of a £6 million upgrade to its lighting network, as well as the council's stated desire to address the 'climate emergency.' The work to upgrade the lamps, some of which are not listed, was suspended at the start of this year in order to facilitate a consultation. When the work was suspended, thirty lamps had already been rebuilt. On October 20, a month-long engagement period is set to begin. The London Gasketeers, a lobbying group that was co-founded by Westminster residents Luke Honey and Tim Bryars, are trying to convince the council to abandon their plans. Mr Rhys Jones (left), the president of the Victorian Society and who made his name on hit TV show Not the Nine O'Clock News, is behind the drive to save the lamps. He told MailOnline today that naming them an "endangered species" -- they are 'part of London's mystery.' On Westminster's Embankment, a gas lamp was also displayed; a lamp was taken out in St James Square, Westminster, 1930s.

Eckhart Tolle appears to be either a Danish footballer or a bronze-bearded soldier in Sky's fantasy epic House Of The Dragon, but in reality, he is Oprah Winfrey's favorite spiritual teacher. At the start of The Suspect (ITV), a five-part psychological drama starring Aidan 'Poldark' Turner, one of his remarks was quoted.' Oprah may believe that, but she hasn't had a chance to watch The Suspect. It's not an illusion; it's the script, which is a delirious bucket of tripe.

Griff Rhys Jones, 68, (pictured) comedian, writer, and television presenter, discusses Hartland Road, Epping, Essex. He recalls White Lode, a four-bedroom house in which he lived from the age of eight to 18, which he remembers. From Midhurst, Sussex, the family migrated to Essex.

The heritage body's announcement comes at a time when department stores have been closed in large part due to the coronavirus pandemic, economic recession, and the shift toward online shopping by customers. According to campaigners, more than half of department stores have closed in the last seven years, leaving nearly two million square meters of retail space vacant and the original buildings in danger of demolition. Following an increase in calls for certain departments to be listed, a Historic England spokesperson said the department is reviewing department stores around the country. Though the report is still in a 'early stage,' it will help them to 'understand the value of living examples.' After a 20-year fight by campaigners, the government agreed to Historic England's proposal to offer Grade II-listed status to the Brutalist former John Lewis and Cole Brothers building in Sheffield. Aberdeen's Norco House (top right), which was also occupied by John Lewis, was another Brutalist structure put in jeopardy by campaigners. The Twentieth Century Society C20 is working to save many under threat, including a former TJ Hughes store in Eastbourne that dates from the 1920s. In its campaign, C20 also mentioned the former Hammonds building in Hull, which was occupied by the House of Fraser until 2020. It features Art Deco styling and dates from 1952.

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: How did Griff Rhys Jones manage to go moose-hunting in Newfoundland and not spot one single moose? It's like visiting Trafalgar Square and not seeing no pigeons. Griff's Canadian Adventure (C4) sent the natural heir from Cape Spear on the Atlantic coast to Vancouver, Pacific, Canada's first leg. He wasted no time in meeting a Mountie and going for a spin along a stretch of the longest road in a single nation, anywhere in the world, the Trans-Canada Highway. However, his foray into the backwoods in search of a super-sized deer was a disaster. For starters, the 68-year-old Griff couldn't keep up with the 17-year-old conservationist toting a rifle. 'If you want to go hunting' with me, you'll have to move quicker,' called out Taylor from the treeline.'